{"id":534,"date":"2026-01-21T15:56:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=534"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:56:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:56:32","slug":"a-bride-for-hire-novel-chapter-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/a-bride-for-hire-novel-chapter-5\/","title":{"rendered":"A BRIDE FOR HIRE Novel Chapter 5"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A BRIDE FOR HIRE<\/div>\n
CHAPTER FIVE<\/div>\n
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Nqobile.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I\u2019m not sure since when exactly have I developed insomnia but apparently I have and it\u2019s here to stay. It\u2019s been four hours of me shuffling all over this bed, I tried switching the position of the pillows; I tried lessening the number of covers; I\u2019ve tried sleeping on the floor and yet I\u2019m still restless.<\/div>\n
\u201cGoodness gracious me! Why can\u2019t one thing go well for me, just one.\u201d The vent is needed, each time I do so something lifts off my chest almost instantaneously. So, I continue to exert my frustrations out on the pillows too \u2013 the only thing quiet enough to listen to me.<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hurting, all this shit hurts. Being strong hurts, pretending hurts, lying to myself for people I know don\u2019t give a shit for me hurts. The betrayal? It all hurts. I. Am. Hurting!\u201d my fist drives into the softness of the cotton thrice, the fury in me is still boiling my lungs that\u2019s a when I plant my face on the pillow and let out a scream before breaking into a serious cry.<\/div>\n
Today, I\u2019m angry at myself. I let this happen to me, it was my meekness that dragged me into this pit of depression.<\/div>\n
\u2018But again, your bravery just secured your sister\u2019s future. You\u2019re doing this for Olwemihla to live the life of her dreams.\u2019 ~ my brain therapist chips in. Unnecessarily so, I didn\u2019t need her optimism today.<\/div>\n
And we both know that\u2019s a lie, I\u2019m not here for Olwemihla. It just sounds more soothing to think like that because knowing your worth\u2019s value to your parents is a little more painful to admit.<\/div>\n
\u2018Nothing is new though, they\u2019ve always been like that. You just chose to open your eyes to their true colors a little too late.\u2019 ~ she\u2019s speaking sense on that, I take the L.<\/div>\n
Just because it\u2019s nothing new, it doesn\u2019t mean the wound hurts any less. Familiarity does not equate to healing, you can swing on cloud 9 after every single weed joint you smoke \u2013 that doesn\u2019t mean your demons are going away. You just becoming good at pretending like it.<\/div>\n
\u2018Whatever, none of this will you get you anywhere. So get over it.\u2019 ~ yup, Keisha was on duty tonight I can see.<\/div>\n
I switch my brain off completely and usually that means all I want to do is eat, eating entertains my thoughts-break. I wrap my pinafore on and head out the bedroom still stretching and yawning.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It\u2019s so quiet, it feels like I\u2019m dreaming.<\/div>\n
Not to throw shade but this family traumatized me yesterday afternoon, one moment it\u2019s all good and the next sparks are flying and women are marking their territories. I\u2019m not too sure how to feel about that whole lunch war.<\/div>\n
Perhaps Mr X and I need to actually sit down and have a conversation, mainly to do with his family.<\/div>\n
I don\u2019t turn on the light, I\u2019m just relying on the bright ones shining in from the outside through the curtains. I think the open plan setting also makes the house extra bright even with the lights off.<\/div>\n
My brain heads for the oven. With how our conversation ended last night, I don\u2019t think the man ate the food I left for him out of fear of being murdered or something.<\/div>\n
One good thing about me? Because I have developed other personalities in my head \u2013 some optimistic, others pessimistic, it\u2019s easier for me to call myself out on a mistake and the way I spoke to Bakho yesterday was a little overbearing.<\/div>\n
Yes sure, he\u2019s a customer and customers are always right. Nevertheless, he is also an old man \u2026. Sorry, let me reiterate, he is a mature man and I had no business screaming at his face like that. I owe him an apology for it.<\/div>\n
This food isn\u2019t cold I can skip the microwave. What do I want is a glass of whatever that alcoholic drink I saw in the fridge was. I\u2019m about to slide myself on a bar stool and start digging in when the kitchen Aluminum door just swings open, another giraffe strolls inside whilst whistling Barry White.<\/div>\n
I cover my mouth in both shock and fear. Who is this?<\/div>\n
He grabs a dishcloth from the other side of the kitchen and wipes something with it, I force my eyes to go down so I can see what it is.<\/div>\n
\u201cEh\u2026 Zimpambosi zomfula.\u201d The Man startles as he finally notices me when walking back out. He hid that object quite fast, I still saw it!<\/div>\n
I force my lips into a movement I don\u2019t understand, maybe I want to say something but I\u2019m dead already so I can\u2019t speak. That\u2019s how it feels anyway.<\/div>\n
The only moment my breathing returns is when he shuts the door after walking out. A deep exhale relaxes my muscles again, and my palms stop itching.<\/div>\n
Who on earth was that and why was he wiping a knife with my dishcloth? What the heck is going on here?<\/div>\n
I turn around and stare at the curtains, no I shouldn\u2019t peek. Im not here to police people, whatever is happening is none of my business.<\/div>\n
But I live here, I\u2019m sure I deserve to know what\u2019s going on in my own yard right? It\u2019s too early, literally the wee hours but I\u2019m itching to call someone and ask if I\u2019m safe in this house or not.<\/div>\n
MaNgcobo comes to mind, it\u2019s my first day and I already want to be controversial?<\/div>\n
Screw it!<\/div>\n
After digging for the phone in my pocket, I scramble for her number that had saved all on her own while I was bathing. Yeah, privacy isn\u2019t much of thing in this family.<\/div>\n
It rings for a few seconds then she answers, \u201cMaGoqo, is everything alright?\u201d you can\u2019t miss the panic surging and also the sleepy voice.<\/div>\n
\u201cYes! \u2026 Sorry for waking you up actually, it\u2019s just \u2013 \u201c my literacy isn\u2019t strong enough to explain everything I just went through here in a few minutes.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat happened, Nqobile man?\u201d her voice strengthens.<\/div>\n
My fingers clutch on the phone, \u201cI saw someone here, he looked like bhuti but he wasn\u2019t bhuti. Is everything okay?\u201d see, I\u2019m bad at explaining situations like this.<\/div>\n
\u201cZohlokoma is here with me in bed, MaGoqo.\u201d She says.<\/div>\n
Then who was that?<\/div>\n
\u201cWait, wait \u2026 uhm, did he have those wave cuts?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSomething like that.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThe heck! Okay, sthandwa sami don\u2019t mind them. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s nothing serious, just go back to bed.\u201d She sounds cool and relaxed as well, obviously I will relax too.<\/div>\n
\u201cIf you say so, mama. Sorry for waking you up again.\u201d I really feel stupid for doing that now.<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay lover, goodnight.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGoodnight mama.\u201d<\/div>\n
No matter what, in a marriage you should hold your own forte \u2013 umfazi ngumfazi emzini wakhe, I shouldn\u2019t get used to doing this because let\u2019s be real, his family would eat it up during every family gathering and I don\u2019t want to be a cause for any rift between them.<\/div>\n
I should go to bed. Nqobile, go to bed.<\/div>\n
The food is still all over the plate, I\u2019ll warm it later this morning and finish it then. You know what, maybe Mini being here is good, he\u2019ll have all the news for me by noon because I won\u2019t roll over this itch of finding out what was that all about until it\u2019s scratched.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Around 8AM I\u2019m up and positive that we\u2019ve started the day on a good foot, clean energy and with a new lease on life. I\u2019ve talked myself into that anyway.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m already ticking off on my chores list mentally: it\u2019s first the kitchen; the living room; the guest bathrooms and listing grocery. But first and more important, early morning peeing session, I grab my cosmetics too.<\/div>\n
Everything is lovely, I\u2019m walking on clouds. Nothing\u2019s going to change if I don\u2019t start looking at this in a whimsical experience light. So I\u2019ll have to suck it \u2026<\/div>\n
\u201cAAAAAAHHHHH!\u201d I fling my hands over my mouth and fight my lungs for air to breathe.<\/div>\n
They all stand up at once too. There are \u2026 1,2,3,4,5,6 obnoxiously tall men huddled in my living room. My husband is the only one still leaning on the top rail of the couch, his eyes scanning me in concern I think, it\u2019s very difficult understanding his expressions because of those thick waves on his forehead.<\/div>\n
\u201cGood morning, bo-Bhuti.\u201d I smile as less awkwardly as possible, and even wave.<\/div>\n
They don\u2019t say anything back, I think they\u2019re stunned too. Funny because this is my house now, if I\u2019m not here then where am I supposed to be? I excuse myself without further explanation and only then do I hear them breath out, murmurs and chuckles fill the room again.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There is no time for lengthy showers anymore, I\u2019m quick and done changing into my last clean pinafore. MaKhanyile needs to send my clothes quick! After putting a doek and the makoti-sachet I make my way out to the kitchen immediately to start prepping breakfast for all those people.<\/div>\n
I don\u2019t even know who they are, I did however spot one that has a strong resemblance to Bab\u2019omncane. But, if that is his son then why didn\u2019t he pitch up yesterday?<\/div>\n
Here comes the real kicker, what do I cook?<\/div>\n
Eggs and bacon? There is lots of it in the fridge or do I just rock old school heavy foods? Ugh, to make my life simple I take out pork cutlets from the freezer and get those defrosted while I chop up mushrooms and some veggies for a creamy sauce that I\u2019ll dress over the cutlets. For starch, they\u2019ll make do with the baguette bread that\u2019s piled in the fridge, only I\u2019ll add my twist and mix some butter; aromat and garlic with some herb spices then fry them up. Everything will be self service just avoid me running low on my confidence batteries and ending up being a fuck up.<\/div>\n
What do tall men drink anyway!<\/div>\n
There\u2019s an expresso machine here, should I just make that? As if I know how to work this thing to begin with!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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After a busy 25+ minutes, I\u2019m already done and the noise from the living room has kept gradually increasing. The main Convo? Their childhood trauma, they are boasting out laughing over their childhood traumas. And now more than ever I\u2019m certain oBaba have some agenda that isn\u2019t so good and pure because it\u2019s utterly insane to me how ugly their relationships with their own children were.<\/div>\n
I grab a bowl of warm water and pour three drops of Maq dishwashing liquid and lemon then throw a dishcloth over my shoulder ready to go make them wash their hands.<\/div>\n
I hate how they lower their voices when I approach, like damn stop breeding the weird vibe.<\/div>\n
\u201cSorry to interrupt boBhuti. Breakfast is ready, please wash your hands.\u201d My tiny voice feels like it\u2019s drowning in their breathes alone.<\/div>\n
I march up to the husband first and kneel, he\u2019s the only one who will be getting that privilege, the rest will get a bend.<\/div>\n
\u201cThank you, Zimpambosi zomfula.\u201d He speaks so slow, not slow in a slug manner, but slow in a regulated manner.<\/div>\n
My last night\u2019s behavior mirrors in my mind once again, I feel a little bad for yelling once again even if he deserved it.<\/div>\n
\u201cMhlaba.\u201d I nod and take my bowl elsewhere once he was done.<\/div>\n
When everyone is finished washing their hands, I return to my territory and get rid of the dirty water, it\u2019s literally red-ish.<\/div>\n
My heart is already thinking what my mind refuses to. I push that nonsense to the back of my head and continue getting everything sorted on the dining room table. Breakfast is self service, I\u2019ve placed juice; water and coffee on the table for them. They\u2019ll choose what they want, these are grown men with choices and apparently childhood traumas too.<\/div>\n
Meanwhile I dish up my plate and go have my breakfast outside in the garden gazebo.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There\u2019s a peace that comes from sitting in this area, one I can\u2019t silence in my mind. It\u2019s been a full day and some hours now, I\u2019ve met the family; I\u2019ve met the husband and still the question won\u2019t stop recycling itself in my mind. How. Did. I. Get here?<\/div>\n
Life is moving too fast all a sudden, I\u2019m evolving faster than colonizers did in Africa and in all that my greatest concern is: Am I going to fulfil my role right? Like I said before, it\u2019s been only a day and some hours and yet I\u2019ve already disturbed my sister-wife\u2019s peace in the crack of dawn!<\/div>\n
Marriage has never been buddy-buddy to me, hence the level of loathing I share for it but now that I\u2019m here and there is no going back anytime soon, I want to make sure I do my best.<\/div>\n
Problem is, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s my best exactly in this situation. All I keep thinking about is what would Nonkanyiso have done?<\/div>\n
Perhaps I should call her and ask for help, she knew this man four whole weeks more than me, she probably knows a thing or two. I grab my phone from my pocket and sprint to my call log before I talk myself out of this.<\/div>\n
It rings two times unanswered. Weird.<\/div>\n
I call again, shifting to the left of the bench for better reception.<\/div>\n
The answer? Voicemail.<\/div>\n
\u201cHhayi-bo wenja, answer your damn phone!\u201d she doesn\u2019t have the slightest right to be mizing me, I\u2019m the aggrieved between us.<\/div>\n
On my fourth call, the bitch finally picks up.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat do you want, Nqobile!?\u201d<\/div>\n
Apparently, the audacity that she eats for breakfast!<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat are you fired up for? You\u2019re out there living your dream life with your boyfriend and that R30 000. I should be the angry woman not you!\u201d and I am angry, at myself not them, stupid I know.<\/div>\n
She deeply sighs, collects her manners again and rephrases that stella opening line, \u201cI apologize, Nqobile. I\u2019m just \u2026 it\u2019s just that I\u2019m tired, I haven\u2019t slept much.\u201d Awww, they do say money makes sleeping hard.<\/div>\n
\u201cCan we meet up later today or something?\u201d<\/div>\n
She doesn\u2019t say anything but I can hear her galloping breathing very clearly.<\/div>\n
\u201cAre you going to vanish again?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNqobile c\u2019mon, I have apologized please forgive me.\u201d I won\u2019t do that crap!<\/div>\n
\u201cCan we or can we not meet today?\u201d I ask again, more firmly this time. Maybe in her head I\u2019m just trying to weave my way in her heart again.<\/div>\n
As if!<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy? And does that psycho of yours knows that you want us to meet?\u201d who is the psycho now?<\/div>\n
I\u2019m about to ask when someone clears their throat behind me. My body jolts in a fright, \u201cI\u2019ll call you later friend, bye.\u201d I stumble over a few words but I think I covered that well.<\/div>\n
\u201cDid I interrupt something, MaNdaba?\u201d<\/div>\n
I shake my head, \u201cNo Mhlaba, that was nothing. Is everything alright?\u201d<\/div>\n
He\u2019s good-looking today, more casual than yesterday. He\u2019s wearing a baby pink formal pant and a white cotton tee paired with sneakers. Did he iron his own clothes?<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, my brothers appreciated the meal. Siyabonga Sobahle.\u201d<\/div>\n
I crack into a smile, it\u2019s genuine trust me.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m not used to being shown any gratitude for anything that I do, not in the way he says it.<\/div>\n
Flashes of what I came across last night erase the good judgement, I\u2019m doing too much it needs to stop.<\/div>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t officially met any of your other brothers, they weren\u2019t here yesterday.\u201d I baby walk into the conversation we should be having. Me being officially announced because these pop-up meet-ups are not comfortable for me.<\/div>\n
\u201cI have sisters too.\u201d Oh, talk about a fun fact.<\/div>\n
\u201cWill I ever officially know them? If it\u2019s any of my business of course, I\u2019d respect any decision you make.\u201d Maybe not any, let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves.<\/div>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll talk. Uh, for now we are on our way out.\u201d Lovely, just freaking lovely!<\/div>\n
\u201cOkay, peace chommie.\u201d I\u2019m so over this man mahn!<\/div>\n
After grabbing my plate and glass, I walk off back to the house leaving him there on his own.<\/div>\n
The house is empty again and clean, did these men clean up themselves? There isn\u2019t a single dish or grain of bread in the kitchen.<\/div>\n
So I\u2019ll just clean up in the bathrooms and living room then go to bed for a nap.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Yeah, that sleep thing didn\u2019t work and I thought of calling my sister again but after what she said, I decided nah.<\/div>\n
I\u2019ll just see what I can do\u2026 erh, did I miss another lunch planning?<\/div>\n
I watch madame stroll in my house, looking around for whoever, until her eyes finally set on me. I walk further down the passage way and make sure to reveal how disturbing this looks to me.<\/div>\n
\u201cAh, Ma\u2026\u201d Beauty gestures for me to finish it off for her because apparently, she doesn\u2019t remember the name of the woman whose house she\u2019s in right now.<\/div>\n
\u201cNqobile is just fine, Ma.\u201d Yeah, I also have to call her that.<\/div>\n
\u201cHow are you today, Nqobile? After yesterday\u2019s disaster, I can\u2019t imagine how tough you\u2019ve been finding adjusting to the family.\u201d Her boobs give me no rest, they look like air balls that have been pumped to their limits. They look good on her though.<\/div>\n
\u201cNo family is perfect, Ma. And I\u2019ve been doing just fine thanks.\u201d<\/div>\n
I cringe at how she throws herself on the couch and the way she puts her feet up on the table.<\/div>\n
\u201cI came in peace, to apologize really. My behavior yesterday was unappreciative, it\u2019s just my boy hasn\u2019t brought anyone home in a long time. I don\u2019t know if he has told you, Bungobakho is a bit\u2026 different from his siblings.\u201d Different in what manner exactly? They all seem the same to me.<\/div>\n
Well, make an exception of Minenhle.<\/div>\n
\u201cI see.\u201d I nod.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t we go shopping? I don\u2019t reckon you own any clothes less hideous than that.\u201d<\/div>\n
Excuse her!<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pinafore, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s one in couture Ma.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThen you should change it. C\u2019mon, you\u2019re a Ximba now you must be decent at the very least.\u201d<\/div>\n
My brow takes a curved quest, \u201cI don\u2019t think Msuthu minds the way I look, Beauty.\u201d She\u2019s starting to remind me why I was told to avoid her like the plague.<\/div>\n
\u201cHas he looked at you? In any case, he might not mind how you look but there are other watching. A 50 cents is a 50 cents, you don\u2019t need to rub it in dirt to make it undesirable but little girl, who wants to walk around with a dirty 50 cents in their purse?\u201d her lips tilt ever so slightly, \u201cCome, let\u2019s go.\u201d Beauty gets up, packing her sunglasses and car keys into her bag.<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have the keys to the house, I can\u2019t lock up.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo one will dare walk in her, the last person who stole a TV in this house. Returned a week later with a bigger one and a microwave as a gift, he did the installation free of charge.\u201d<\/div>\n
What!?<\/div>\n
\u201cThe quiet ones huh?\u201d she smirks and her heels start making noise all the way out the house.<\/div>\n
I don\u2019t know what to do. Why can\u2019t I go out and let loose? It\u2019s not like she will kill me and bury my body in the wilderness. Besides, I need clothes.<\/div>\n
I close up the house, leaving it unlocked as is and hope Beauty wasn\u2019t bluffing. My feet almost trip over the three steps going down the verandah.<\/div>\n
A Brabus!?<\/div>\n
\u201cThis is your car?\u201d I\u2019m stunned and impressed.<\/div>\n
I didn\u2019t take her for a sports car fanatic.<\/div>\n
\u201cGet inside the car farm julia.\u201d<\/div>\n
Argh! She always ruins everything!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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That whole shopping is a girl\u2019s therapy stuff? 101% true!<\/div>\n
I\u2019ve never felt so carefree before, it\u2019s fun other than the little moments where Beauty says something lame or belittling. I\u2019ve learned one thing though, and it\u2019s that when you learn how to fly with the witches, you find they aren\u2019t so bad after all.<\/div>\n
We\u2019re walking into a restaurant in after three straight hours of parading Galleria mall with shopping bags hanging from our arms. Shoes; dresses and a few skirts is all I brought\u2026 oh underwear too.<\/div>\n
And because I felt bad for spending that man\u2019s money, Beauty clearly stated she will be refunded her money, I bought him a belt. A leather one. Probably not the best gift to buy for a man you still don\u2019t know.<\/div>\n
\u201cI told you, your legs are too skinny for pencil skirts. Who wears pencil skirts outside the office anyway?\u201d at this point I can\u2019t tell whether she\u2019s insulting me for fun or if she\u2019s just naturally brutal in her honesty.<\/div>\n
\u201cNot very word coming out of your mouth needs to be mean, Beauty. I like hanging around with you but I hate your ignorance.\u201d I mumble behind her in my forced feisty tone.<\/div>\n
We are ushered to a less crowded area and given menus. The waitress promises to return after five minutes.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat are you going to do about it?\u201d her eyes pop out towards me.<\/div>\n
Ah! I\u2019m gobsmacked!<\/div>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s your problem, don\u2019t say you don\u2019t like something if there\u2019s nothing you\u2019re going to do about it. That\u2019s how these people learn to give you the respect you think you deserve.\u201d She scoffs and starts chewing the free bread sticks.<\/div>\n
\u201cYou think this family is the one you were sitting around your fancy dinner table with? If that\u2019s what you believe then wake the hell up and start smelling the coffee before you wake up to 3rd degree burns. Be smart, Nqobile.\u201d<\/div>\n
My Flippen gosh, I\u2019m just a paid bride here, what\u2019s with all the trigger warnings?<\/div>\n
\u201cWe aren\u2019t a bad family BTW.\u201d And why do they all say that?<\/div>\n
My ringing phone distracts me.<\/div>\n
It\u2019s MaNgcobo.<\/div>\n
\u201cExcuse me.\u201d I get up from the table and head to a corner further away from our table.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cMaNgcobo, how are you?\u201d she must be checking in after the midnight saga.<\/div>\n
\u201cHey sthandwa sami. I\u2019m okay, just woke up and figured we should do something today, maybe fetch your belongings.\u201d Ooou, this will be a tough one.<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not exactly home right now, I\u2019m at the Mall.\u201d I whisper.<\/div>\n
\u201cOh! That was quick, you and your man are already going out and doing couple\u2019s stuff?\u201d oh my word no!<\/div>\n
\u201cNo, not with Bakho. I\u2019m with Beauty.\u201d<\/div>\n
I hear tyers screeching, \u201cWith who? By yourself? Kanjani manje Nqobile?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cShe came and offered to take me shopping, what was I supposed to do?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cCall me, as I stated. Goodness, Nqobile where are you?\u201d she\u2019s overreacting now.<\/div>\n
\u201cGalleria Mall but I\u2019m fine, Beauty isn\u2019t that bad.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYou just arrived yesterday, Nqobile. You definitely don\u2019t know who Beauty is. Do not leave that Mall with her, I\u2019m on my way.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSibahle, what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cJust do as I say.\u201d The crazy bitch hangs up on me.<\/div>\n
What kind of family is this?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I return to the table feeling uneasy all over again, I\u2019m not sure of anything anymore. What\u2019s going on? There\u2019s so much going on in this family and not enough resources to find out what.<\/div>\n
Beauty looks at me for a minute, the bread stick being twirled in the air. \u201cYour nanny?\u201d her question isn\u2019t a question.<\/div>\n
She knows it was her.<\/div>\n
I want to stuff my face with bread sticks too now.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2206\u2206\u2206<\/div>\n
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A BRIDE FOR HIRE CHAPTER FIVE . . Nqobile. I\u2019m not sure since when exactly have I developed insomnia but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-bride-for-hire-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":542,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534\/revisions\/542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}